CHAPTER V 1 



THE LAST AND THE LEAST THINGS : ATOMS 

 AND SOUL-MONADS 



THE reaction against Aristotelianism had, as one of its 

 results, a renascence of the atomic theory of Democritus 

 and Lucretius ; and one of the earliest adherents of 

 the renovated doctrine was Bruno. Although a com- 

 plete presentation of the theory was not given until 

 his later works, the De Minim o and the Articuli adv. 

 Mathematicos, appeared, yet already in the Italian 

 dialogues there were frequent references to it. In 

 the Cena? for example, it is said that in the physical 

 division of a finite body infinite progress is impossible, 

 and, as we shall afterwards find, in Bruno there is no 

 distinction between physical and mathematical divi- 

 sion. Again, in the Cena an animistic atomism is 

 suggested, which presents a curious anticipation of 

 some of Leibniz' characteristic views. " It is more 

 than probable, as all things partake of life, that many 

 or innumerable individuals live not only in us, but in 

 all composite things ; when anything " dies," as is said, 

 we must believe it to be not death, but change only ; 

 the accidental composition or concord ceases, the things 

 that enter into it remaining always immortal ; and this 

 is truer of those things we call spiritual than of those 



1 Acrot'nmus: De Aiittimo. 2 Lag. p. 158. 



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